Letters

Shame On CL

Your article ("Charlotte's Top 15 Drunk Drivers," by Tara Servatius, Mar. 26) demonstrates an inadequacy of our law enforcement and criminal justice systems in regard to drunk drivers, and the difficulty of rehabilitation for those who are alcoholic. Your statement in the article, "Whatever the case, the majority of our "winners' show no signs of giving up their habits. . ." appears to indicate that Creative Loafing is aware of some folks on this list who may be rehabilitated. The fact that you would print the names of folks who are known to have been rehabilitated is a blot on the publishing standards of Creative Loafing.

I personally know one person on this list who readily admits his alcoholism, has paid his debt as required by the legal system, is actively involved in recovery through AA, has not had a drink in four years, and has become a productive citizen in church and community. While this one individual may be the exception among this group, it demonstrates that CL did not do its homework, or worse, that it did do its homework and chose to ignore the complications for the individual(s) in recovery. Shame on you.

-- Mark Diehl, Charlotte

DAs Should Be Next

Excellent reporting!

Your next expose should be the top assistant DAs that let the perps plea bargain, instead of putting them away. Include pics with this one, too.

-- Terry Lorch, Charlotte

What's Tara Smoking?

In response to "Up in Smoke" by Tara Servatius (Mar. 26), as a cancer survivor, I am an active supporter of increasing the cigarette excise tax for North Carolina. Raising this tax to a level that meets or exceeds the national level would be good for our children, our healthcare, and would bring in new revenue to address the state's budget shortfall.

Our children will be discouraged from smoking if the cost of cigarettes is out of their reach. The average age of a first time smoker is 13, and 89 percent of adults who smoke today started before they turned 18. There is proof that for every increase in the price of tobacco, there is a corresponding decrease in youth tobacco consumption.

-- Phillip Gussman, Charlotte

Not Murder, Just An Accident

Rachel Corrie's death was a tragic accident, not murder! ("Rachel Corrie's Courage," by Kara Spencer, Mar. 26) My sympathies go out to her parents and friends. Israel has every right to pursue its enemies and bulldozing homes and businesses that harbor murdering terrorists are within the State's rights. There are people who put themselves knowingly in harm's way by taunting tanks or bulldozers doing their jobs to protect the lives of innocent Israelis who have been brutally murdered by Arafat's terrorists. These individuals must accept the consequences of their misguided actions. These activists should direct their energies against states and people who endorse and support terrorism.

-- Arnold Weinstein, Charlotte

It's A Sin To Tell A Lie

In regard to your article detailing the new surveillance requirements placed on librarians by the fascist Bush regime ("Privacy on Loan," by Tara Servatius, Mar. 26), some interesting legal issues might be examined. It is now illegal for a librarian to inform a library user that the Feds have requested his or her library records. One envisions a scenario in which a library user simply asks the librarian if his or her records have been perused by the government. At this point, does the law require the librarian to lie? This might be construed as a legal requirement for a librarian to violate the Commandment against "bearing false witness" in the Ten Commandments. In other words, does Federal law now require a librarian to violate a centuries-longstanding belief that lying is a sin? Does the law require the librarian to stand mute? If the librarian merely gives a twitch of the head, does that twitch, if vertical, make the librarian a felon? Interesting indeed.

-- Russell Newsom, Charlotte

Thanks From The Crittendon Home

On behalf of the Florence Crittendon Service Board of Directors, Staff, and most importantly the residents who receive care through Crittendon, thank you! We were so excited to be on the cover of the March 19 edition of Creative Loafing ("Who You Gonna Call?," by Karen Martin).

We feel like our history is a part of Charlotte's history. The article you published helped others in the community learn that even though attitudes have changed over the years, there are still girls and women that need our help.

For almost a century, "The Florence Crittendon Home" has been dedicated to at-risk pregnant adolescents, young women and their infants. Your "contribution" to our Centennial will help spread the word to "Promote Health and Hope for Tomorrow's Children" in the century to come.

-- Marilyn Thompson, CEO, Charlotte

We welcome your letters to the editor. Please send your letters to: The Editors, Creative Loafing, PO Box 241988, Charlotte, NC 28224. Or write us via the Internet at the following address: backtalk@creativeloafing.com. Please note that this e-mail address is for letters to the editors only. Please limit your letters to 300 words or less. Please include your phone number for confirmation, including e-mail letter writers; your phone number will not be published. We reserve the right to edit all letters for space, grammar and clarity.

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